Implant implantation unit and procedure for implanting the unit

ABSTRACT

The implant implantation unit, at a determined position in the tubular element with a wall comprising a cavity, is pushed there by a catheter and the unit comprises deformable feelers to, under the control of remote activation elements, change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/210,085, filed on Aug. 2, 2002, which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The current invention relates to an implant implantation unit and to aprocedure for fitting the unit in a tubular element.

The problem at the origin of the invention concerns the implantation ofheart valves. Until recently this necessitated open heart surgicaloperations, with stages such as stopping the heart, the implementationof extra bodily blood circulation and restarting the heart after theimplantation of replacement heart valves. These surgical operations aredifficult and delicate and present mortal risks related to operatingshocks.

2. Description of Related Art

Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,063 thus describes a unit carryingreplacement heart valves, the unit comprising a tubular implant insynthetic material carrying internally a replacement valve in naturalmaterial.

Documents U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,601 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,783 describenew heart valve implantation methods, which offer the advantage ofavoiding open heart surgery. These methods provide the implantation, bymovement through the blood circulation system, of a heart valvereplacement unit comprising a radially expandable intra-vascularcylinder carrying a biological valve internally. An inflatable part of aballoon catheter is placed inside the carrier cylinder and theimplantation is done by introduction into a vein and movement as far asthe failed valve using a catheter. A two dimensional image screendisplay allows the detection that the carrier cylinder has reached therequired position and the cylinder is then dilated by inflating theballoon through the catheter and maintains its expanded shape. Theballoon is then deflated and withdrawn with the catheter.

The carrier cylinder presents a sealed casing, which is thus forcedagainst the artery wall, so as to avoid the blood flow bypassing thereplacement valve.

However, when the aorta is involved this procedure is not applicablebecause the coronary arteries open close to the failed native valves, sothat the carrier cylinder is likely to block them, provoking the deathof the patient.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventors of the present application have therefore thought ofproviding two corresponding openings in the wall of the carrier cylindercasing. However, so that these openings will be placed opposite the twocoronaries, the position of the carrier cylinder in the aorta must becompletely controlled. Monitoring on the screen allows the progress, oraxial position, of the carrier cylinder to be checked, but the angularposition will be neither visible nor controlled.

The applicants have therefore found a solution, described below,allowing the position of the carrier cylinder to be controlled.

They have therefore thought about the resolution of the more generalproblem of positioning an implant unit or transport vehicle in a tubularelement with difficult access and for which imaging is insufficient oreven impossible. The field of application could thus concern otherfields than the medical, such as the petroleum or nuclear industries,for installing sensors, valves and other items. The scope of the presentapplication must therefore not be considered as limited to theresolution of the original problem. In a more general way, the inventionaims to allow, the placing, in a difficult to access location of atubular element, of a unit intended to carry an implant, whatever thefunction of the implant.

To this end, the invention concerns in the first place a unit for theimplantation in a determined position of a tubular element with a wallcomprising a cavity, the unit being arranged to cooperate with means fordriving the unit in the tubular element, a unit characterized by thefact that it comprises deformable feelers arranged so that, under thecontrol of means for remote activation, it passes from a stowed to adeployed functional shape, to detect the cavity and position itselfthere with reference to the position of the cavity.

Thus, the unit can be made to advance blind and the feelers allow theautomatic detection of the cavity and positioning at it.

The final required position can also be reached even through acontraction of the tubular element for example an access artery leadingto an artery of larger diameter.

The invention also concerns a process, which is not surgical and withouttherapeutic aim, for implantation of the inventive unit, at apredetermined position in a tubular element presenting a wall comprisinga cavity which procedure is characterized by the fact that

-   -   a user inserts the unit through an open end of the tubular        element    -   he activates drive means to make the unit advance to a position        before the determined position,    -   he commands the feeler remote activation means and, with the        advance continuing,    -   he stops the action of the drive means when he detects a        blockage of the advance, indicating that the feeler means are        positioned in the cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appearmore clearly with the aid of the following description of a particularform of the realization of the inventive unit and a variant, as well asthe procedure for using it, with reference to the attached drawing, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a lateral cross section of the inventive unit, representingthe feeler positioning and anchoring elements, associated with acylinder carrying a valve prosthesis, the whole being covered by tworemovable concentric activation casings,

FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. 1, the feeler positioning and anchoringelements having been deployed radially by axial withdrawal of theexternal casing,

FIG. 3 corresponds to FIGS. 1 and 2, with the carrier cylindersurrounded by positioning and anchoring feeler elements having beendeployed radially after axial withdrawal of the internal casing,

FIG. 4 is a lateral view of the carrier cylinder and the positioning andanchoring feeler elements,

FIG. 5 is a lateral perspective view of the positioning and anchoringfeeler elements,

FIG. 6 is a schematic face view of the inventive unit, and

FIG. 7 is a schematic lateral section of the variant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, the present implementation example corresponds tothe medical problem, explained at the beginning, of implanting afunctioning replacement valve for the native aorta valve. The valveimplantation unit 10 comprises a carrier element 20 to hold the implant,joined to a plurality of feeler, or palpation, elements or fingers 30,31, here regularly spaced angularly all around, for positioning andanchoring relative to relief features, specifically a cavity in theaorta wall, unit 10 being linked removably to a positioning catheter 60.Unit 10 is associated with two concentric sleeves 41, 42 for successiveremote activation, by radial expansion, of feeler elements 30, 31 thenthe carrier element 20. The direction of movement of unit 10 istherefore towards the left in FIGS. 1 to 3. Reference 62 represents anaxis of symmetry and the drive direction of unit 10 and catheter 60.

The implantation valve forms a prosthesis 1 comprising valve units 2 ofthe valve whose shape and size correspond perfectly, in the operatingposition, to those of the native aorta valves 50 (FIG. 2). Theprosthesis 1 is fixed to the implant holding carrier vehicle element 20,here comprising a cylindrical mesh in a bio-compatible material such assteel, gold alloys and for preference as here, nitinol, which comprisesa shape memory nickel-titanium alloy offering the ability to regain itsshape after initial deformation, here by radial compression. The fixingof prosthesis 1 to the cylindrical nitinol mesh is made in well definedlocations leaving free those regions that correspond to the valve units2 after deployment from the stowed position of FIG. 2, as illustratedbelow in respect of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 represents the cylindrical mesh 20 in the deployed form, carryingthe valve units 2 also deployed internally, on which are connected thefeeler elements 30, 31, here in the form of a generally cylindricalexterior ring of wire loops of which one (31) at least, here in factthree, protrudes laterally and towards the front, opposite the catheter60. In this example, the loops 31 extend, in the deployed position, in adirection inclined at about 30 degrees towards the front (direction ofmovement towards the target position) relative to the axis 62 of themesh 20 and the ring 30. The feeler elements 30, 31 are joined to thecylindrical mesh 20 in such a way that their axial and angular positionsrelative to it are perfectly defined. The assembly, cylindrical mesh 2and feeler elements 30, 31, is here composed of the auto expandablebio-compatible material mentioned above.

The cylindrical carrier mesh 20 is here covered with an impermeablelateral casing intended to be pressed against the aorta wall to avoidbypassing by the blood circulation.

FIG. 5 shows the feeler elements 30, 31 in perspective. FIG. 6 is aschematic view, along the unit 10 axial direction, showing the threeloops 31 protruding laterally from the tubular grid 20 that carriesthem, while the 2 valve units of the valve to be implanted are fixedinternally to the carrier cylinder 20.

In addition, if necessary, an inflatable balloon, joined to the catheter60, can here be placed inside the carrier cylinder 20, to be fed withliquid under pressure through catheter pipe 60 so as to cause or assistthe radial expansion of the carrier cylinder 20 to the required deployedform.

As the feeler elements 30, 31 are made in a self expanding material suchas nitinol, or an equivalent element forming an elastically protrudingfoot or finger, unit 10 is covered with an inhibition sleeve 42 to holdthe feeler elements 30, 31 in a stowed position, the loops 31 beingfolded on the ring 30 and thus also on the mesh 20. Sleeve 42 extends tocover the catheter 60. A second sleeve 41, effectively the same lengthand without effect on the feeler elements 30, 31, is here similarlyprovided to hold the carrier cylinder 20 in the stowed position, so asto avoid unplanned deployment even in the absence of inflation of theballoon 3. The two sleeves 41, 42, are mounted concentrically on thecatheter 60. The sleeves 41 and 42 are accessible from the end ofcatheter 60 opposite to the unit 10. Elements 3, 41, 42, and 60 comprisea functional catheter assembly separable from the unit 10, for thepositioning and switching on this latter and the payload (2).

The two sleeves 41, 42 inhibit the radial deployment or the structure20, 30, 31 until the latter reaches the region of the native aorta valve50 to be functionally replaced, and thus allow the introduction of unit10 into the blood circulation system, such as a reduced diameter incisedartery. As indicated, the catheter 60, with balloon 3, is detachablyjoined to the implantation unit 10 so as to allow an axial advance ofthe implantation unit 10 in the blood circulation system up to theimplantation location, and the withdrawal of the catheter assembly 3,41, 42, 60.

To free itself, the catheter 60 comprises, in this example, at the fixedend of carrier cylinder 20, a spring effect clamp (not shown), withremotely controlled teeth, fitted to rotate radially, for connection tothe unit 10 and has a sliding central remote control metal wire toaxially push back the claw branches or teeth so as to separate themradially and so free the catheter 60 of the implantation unit 10according to the sugar claw principle.

When the cylindrical mesh 20 is deployed, the pressure on the aortainternal wall is provided by the shape memory effect, which thus ensuresthe radial dilation of the prosthesis 1. The failed native valve unit 50is flattened by being pressed by the tubular grid 20 against the aortainternal wall, each of the three loops 31 protruding laterally havingpreviously been engaged in one, specifically, of the three native valveunits 50 and being similarly pressed to confirm its anchorage. The valveunits 50 are thus clamped between the mesh 20, 30 and the respectiveloops 31.

The implantation procedure for the unit 10 described above, according tothe preferred method of implementation, comprises the following steps.After insertion of the implantation unit 10 into the circulatory system,and after having pushed it using the catheter 60 to a position above thefinal target position, here precisely where the unit 10 arrives in theaorta, and so that a large diameter space is thus offered to it, thefollowing stage consists of freeing the lateral loops 31, initiallypressed against the stowed mesh 20, 30. The release of the loops 31 isdone by withdrawing the external retention sleeve 42 (FIG. 2), that isto say withdrawn whilst maintaining the thrust on the catheter 60. Theforward movement of the unit 10 continuing, the loops 31, being thenprotruded laterally towards the front with respect to the axialdirection of forward movement, in opposition to the catheter 60, theyform a sort of tripod and simultaneously penetrate the three respectivenative valves 50, effectively identical, comprising an arrangement ofconnection pockets in a complete ring with each extending over 120degrees, filling in total the whole of the perimeter of the aortainternal wall 51. Each native valve unit 50 offers a rounded base.

Each lateral protrusion 31, turned towards the front, presses againstthe base of the native valve unit 50 concerned, in general in a pointdistant from the “lowest” point of the base, that is to say, thefurthest from the catheter 60. This is therefore a partial stop becausethe axial advance of the unit 10 continues by thrust from the catheter60, the axial thrust of the unit 10 causing it to slide to the lowestpoint. The bottom of the valve unit 50 thus comprises a sort of inclinedplane guidance track (not orthogonal to the axis (62) of the aorta)which, in reaction to the axial forward force, creates a circumferentialreaction force causing the rotation of the unit 10 until the feeler loopconsidered 31 reaches the lowest point, which corresponds to a completeend wall (with tangential plane orthogonal to the axis (62) of the aorta51), and thus corresponds to the final axial and angular position soughtfor the unit 10.

Each lateral protrusion 31, with rounded ends, here as a loop, so as tobe able to slide in the bottom of the valve unit 50, thus comprises, bycontinuous cooperation with the variable depth rounded base of thenative valves 50, means for rotational drive of the feeler elements 30,31 and thus also of the cylindrical mesh 20, to which it is joined.However if the lateral protrusions 31 by chance bump against a nativevalve unit 50 commissure, the implantation unit 10 can be slightlywithdrawn and the operator twists the catheter 60 so that it pivotsangularly to be able to restart the positioning and anchoring operation.

The assembly, feeler elements 30, 31 and cylindrical mesh 20, beingpositioned axially and at an angle with respect to the specific reliefof the aorta comprising the native valve units 50, it is thenautomatically positioned with respect to the two coronary openings (52)for which the axial and angular position with respect to the valve units50 is determined and known, the valve unit—coronary axial distanceevidently depending on the size of the patient.

In the case considered here in which the three native valves 50 form acircular circumference to the aorta wall extending over 360 degrees, asingle lateral protrusion is sufficient to modulo 120 degreespositioning and anchoring the cylindrical mesh 20. As stated above, in ageneral case, there could only be one feeler 30, 31 working with a rowof cavities or pockets covering all the circumference of the tubularelement, or even a single pocket of cavity 50 only occupying a sector ofthe circumference and a plurality of feelers 30, 31 all around the unit10 so that one of them fits in the cavity.

It will be noted that, in the present example, modulo 120 degreespositioning can be tolerated because the two coronaries (52) naturallyeffectively show this angle. If this was not the case, it would benecessary laterally to enlarge two openings or serrations 22 provided inthe casing 21 so that they were positioned opposite the coronaries (52)(FIG. 4 and position marked on FIG. 3.), or again to feel, using thefeelers 31, the coronaries (52) themselves, which also comprise cavitiesin the aorta 51, and not to sense the native valve units 50. This casecorresponds to the variant described below.

Positioning thus having been effected, the following stage, as show inFIG. 3, consists of deploying the cylindrical mesh 20 carryinginternally the valve units 2 by withdrawing the internal retainingsleeve 41, to consolidate the anchorage and change the valve units 2 totheir operational form. For the clarity of the drawing, in particularthe protrusions 31, the mesh 20 has been represented with a relativelysmall diameter, whereas in fact it matches that of the aorta 51, with aslight increase to ensure the required lateral pressure. In the sameway, two protrusions 31 have been represented, although in fact they areseparated by 120 degrees, with the plane of FIG. 3 only in realitycutting one. For this reason, only a single coronary has been drawn(52).

The three loops 31 protruding however provide by themselves a basicanchorage in the bottom of the pockets comprising the native valves 50and ensure the positional stability of the prosthesis 1. After a fewweeks, fibrous tissue will cover the prosthesis 1, combining with thelateral protrusions 31 to further improve the fixing.

It will be noted however that, in the deployed position of the feelerelements 31, it is not necessary that their free ends should be firmlypressed against the aorta 51 wall. It is sufficient that their radialextension should be sufficient that they hook, in passing, onto thevalve units 50. Because of this, when the feeler elements 31 aredeployed, before the final position, the later axial translation of theunit 10, up to this position, is done without “hard” rubbing underpressure, of the part of the loops 31 on the aorta wall 51. The latterthus does not run any risk of damage due to scratching or piercing, theloops 31 being feelers, that follow the aorta wall 51 to detect thevalve units 50. As described above, rounded feet or lugs can also besuitable.

The feeler loops 31 thus do not here have very firm anchoring of theunit 10 in the aorta 51 as their main function, because they do not aimto exert a large radial anchoring pressure. As indicated above, this isonly a basic anchoring. It is then the radial deployment of the mesh 20that creates, by shape memory, a definitive radial anchoring pressurethat forces the mesh 20 under pressure against the aorta wall 51 andthus blocks any relative movement, such as the withdrawal of the unit 10that could be due to blood flow, in a direction opposite to theinsertion of the unit 10. The feeler elements 111 are then functionallysuperfluous. They however contribute to maintaining position by pinchingthe valve units 2. As the mesh offers a relatively high contact surfacewith the aorta 51, any risk of damaging the latter is excluded. Theshape memory material allows the radial pressure exerted on the aorta 51to be precisely determined, the diameter of the latter thus increasedbeing then perfectly defined, which eliminates all risk of excessiveradial stress.

The inventive procedure can be implemented in non-surgical manner andwithout therapeutic aims, to implant the unit 10 (or equivalent) in adetermined position in a tubular elements offering a wall including acavity, the procedure comprising the following stages:

a user inserts the unit (10) into an open end to the tubular element,

the user activates the drive means (60) (catheter, external magnet orother) to move the unit (10) up to a position upstream the determinedposition,

the user commands the feeler element (30, 31) activation means (42) and,the forward motion continuing,

the user stops the activation of the drive means (60) when he detects ablockage of the advance, due to the fact that the feeler means (30, 31)are positioned in the cavity.

To ease the drive of the unit 10, this one can be associated with a typeof precursor rostrum 61 (FIGS. 1 to 3) forming a guide, in the form of acylindrical element of a limited diameter, joined to the catheter 60.

It will be noted that the implantation unit according to the inventioncan, first, be implanted alone, without implant or payload, the latterbeing implanted later on the implantation unit according to the sameprinciple. In a similar case, the inventive unit comprises means forreceiving the second support, to come, of the implant, said means beingarranged to ensure the positioning and anchorage, both axially, bystopping, and radially, with angular error correction means such as afinger or cavity provided to fit with an element of matching shape inthe second support.

In the variant shown in FIG. 7, the implantation unit has the reference110 and comprises functional elements similar to those of unit 10, withthe same references preceded by the hundred 1, which have not howeverall been represented, with the aim of clarity. The cylindrical carrierelement 120 is joined to a feeler element 131 which protrudes laterallyand which has the same type of construction as the carrier element 120.In precise fashion, the feeler element 131 appears in the form of acylinder, stowed radially in the rest position. When the unit 110 ispushed by the catheter 160, towards the bottom in FIG. 7, from aposition above that shown, it engages in the coronary 52 when the freeend is thus released from contact with the internal wall of the aorta51.

The unit 110 thus comprises a type of fork that locks by stopping in thebifurcation between the aorta 51 and the coronary 52. When the endposition is reached the two cylindrical elements 120, 131 are deployedby two balloons respectively and form a type of two fingered glove.

Thus, during the positioning phase, the feeler 131 presents a radiallystowed form, thus with reduced diameter not risking blocking thecoronary 52. Then the feeler 131 is deployed, by inflation of theassociated remote control balloon, and constitutes a lining, or internalcasing, pressed against the internal wall of the coronary 52 inaccordance with the principle explained above for the carrier cylinder20.

It will be noted that, as 120 and 131 each occupy a particular branch51, 52, they can be considered as functionally equivalent, with the twoprinciple functions if required. Each of them can in effect be a payload(2) carrier and can also be considered as being a feeler, because theaorta 51 can be considered (functionally in the context of the presentinvention) as being a cavity or branch with respect to the coronary 52.Thus the feeler means comprise a cylindrical element 131 arranged tochange from a stowed form to a radially deployed form, supported againsta wall of the cavity, here the coronary 52, under the influence ofremote control means (balloon and catheter 160),

To avoid the risks of movement of the feeler 131 into the couplingposition to the coronary 52, due to an angular error that necessitatesseveral attempts, it can be arranged for a guide wire to be passed intothe coronary 52 and the upper part of the aorta 51, the unit 110 beingthreaded above it across the feeler 131 that is thus angularly orientedtowards the coronary 52. Another guide wire can at the same time guidecylinder 120 into the aorta 51.

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 10. (canceled) 11.A device for implantation of a replacement heart valve, comprising: acarrier element having a first end and a second end, the carrier elementbeing deployable from a stowed position to a deployed position; and atleast one feeler element being deployable from a stowed position to adeployed position, at least a portion of the at least one feeler elementbeing disposed laterally about the carrier element between the first endand the second end of the carrier element, wherein the at least onefeeler element is deployable independently of the carrier element so asto protrude radially outwardly relative to the carrier element.
 12. Thedevice of claim 11, wherein in the stowed position of the at least onefeeler element, at least a portion of the at least one feeler element issubstantially parallel to a lateral surface portion of the carrierelement.
 13. The device of claim 11, wherein in the stowed position ofthe at least one feeler element, the at least one feeler element foldsalongside a lateral surface portion of the carrier element.
 14. Thedevice of claim 11, wherein in the deployed position of the carrierelement and the deployed position of the at least one feeler element,the at least one feeler element folds alongside a lateral surfaceportion of the carrier element.
 15. The device of claim 11, wherein theat least one feeler element has a configuration sufficient for the atleast one feeler element to be received by a pocket defined between avalve leaflet and a wall of a blood vessel and has a length sufficientto extend substantially from a base of the pocket where the valveleaflet meets the wall of the blood vessel to at least a free end of thevalve leaflet.
 16. The device of claim 11, further comprising a valveprosthesis carried by the carrier element.
 17. The device of claim 11,wherein the at least one feeler element has a rounded free end.
 18. Thedevice of claim 11, wherein the at least one feeler element comprises aplurality of feeler elements.
 19. The device of claim 18, wherein theplurality of feeler elements are connected to each other to form a ringthat is disposed around the carrier element.
 20. The device of claim 18,wherein the carrier element has a tubular configuration and theplurality of feeler elements are angularly spaced from each other aboutthe carrier element.
 21. The device of claim 11, wherein the carrierelement comprises a tubular mesh.
 22. The device of claim 11, furthercomprising a casing covering the carrier element.
 23. The device ofclaim 11, wherein the carrier element and the at least one feelerelement are self-expandable.
 24. The device of claim 11, wherein atleast one of the carrier element and the at least one feeler elementcomprises nitinol.
 25. The device of claim 11, wherein the at least onefeeler element is deployable independently of the carrier element so asto protrude radially outwardly relative to the carrier element andextend at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the carrierelement.
 26. The device of claim 11, wherein the at least one feelerelement is deployable independently of the carrier element so as toprotrude radially outwardly relative to the carrier element such that,in a lateral cross-sectional plane through the carrier element and theat least one feeler element, a surface of the at least one feelerelement substantially facing the carrier element is disposed at an acuteangle relative to an outer lateral surface of the carrier element. 27.The device of claim 11, wherein, in the stowed position of the carrierelement, the carrier element is configured to be received in a firstsleeve, and in the stowed position of the at least one feeler element,the at least one feeler element is configured to be received within asecond sleeve concentrically disposed about the first sleeve.
 28. Thedevice of claim 27, wherein the carrier element and the at least onefeeler element are configured to be respectively placed in the deployedposition by respectively removing the at least one feeler element fromthe second sleeve and the carrier element from the first sleeve.
 29. Thedevice of claim 27, wherein the at least one feeler element and thecarrier element are sequentially deployable by sequentially removing theat least one feeler element from the second sleeve and the carrierelement from the first sleeve.
 30. The device of claim 11, wherein thecarrier element is deployable from the stowed position to the deployedposition via an inflatable balloon.
 31. A device for implantation of areplacement heart valve, comprising: a carrier element having a firstend and a second end, the carrier element being deployable from a stowedposition to a deployed position; and at least one feeler element beingdeployable from a stowed position to a deployed position, wherein the atleast one feeler element is deployable independently of the carrierelement so as to protrude radially outwardly relative to the carrierelement such that, in a lateral cross-sectional plane through thecarrier element and the at least one feeler element, a surface of the atleast one feeler element substantially facing the carrier element isdisposed at an acute angle relative to an outer lateral surface of thecarrier element.
 32. The device of claim 31, further comprising a valveprosthesis carried by the carrier element.
 33. The device of claim 31,wherein the at least one feeler element comprises a plurality of feelerelements.
 34. The device of claim 33, wherein the plurality of feelerelements are connected to each other to form a ring that is disposedaround the carrier element.
 35. The device of claim 33, wherein thecarrier element has a tubular configuration and the plurality of feelerelements are angularly spaced from each other about the carrier element.36. The device of claim 31, wherein the carrier element comprises atubular mesh.
 37. The device of claim 31, further comprising a casingcovering the carrier element.
 38. The device of claim 31, wherein thecarrier element and the at least one feeler element are self-expandable.39. The device of claim 31, wherein at least one of the carrier elementand the at least one feeler element comprises nitinol.
 40. The device ofclaim 31, wherein, in the stowed position of the carrier element, thecarrier element is configured to be received in a first sleeve, and inthe stowed position of the at least one feeler element, the at least onefeeler element is configured to be received within a second sleeveconcentrically disposed about the first sleeve.
 41. The device of claim40, wherein the carrier element and the at least one feeler element areconfigured to be respectively placed in the deployed position byrespectively removing the at least one feeler element from the secondsleeve and the carrier element from the first sleeve.
 42. The device ofclaim 40, wherein the at least one feeler element and the carrierelement are sequentially deployable by sequentially removing the atleast one feeler element from the second sleeve and the carrier elementfrom the first sleeve.
 43. The device of claim 31, wherein the carrierelement is deployable from the stowed position to the deployed positionvia an inflatable balloon.
 44. A method of implanting an implantationdevice relative to a heart valve, the method comprising: advancing animplantation device comprising a carrier element and at least one feelerelement disposed laterally about the carrier element within a lumen of ablood vessel to a position proximate a heart valve having valveleaflets; inserting the at least one feeler element into a pocketdefined by a wall of the blood vessel and a valve leaflet connected tothe wall of the blood vessel; and positioning the carrier elementradially inwardly of the valve leaflets.
 45. The method of claim 44,further comprising deploying the carrier element such that the valveleaflet of the pocket is clamped between the at least one feeler elementand the carrier element.
 46. The method of claim 45, wherein deployingthe carrier element comprises expanding the carrier element.
 47. Themethod of claim 45, wherein deploying the carrier element comprisesremoving a sleeve within which the carrier element is received duringadvancing of the implantation device.
 48. The method of claim 44,further comprising deploying the carrier element such that the carrierelement exerts a radial pressure on the valve leaflets and the wall ofthe blood vessel.
 49. The method of claim 44, further comprisingexpanding the carrier element by inflating a balloon.
 50. The method ofclaim 44, further comprising deploying the at least one feeler elementradially outwardly relative to the carrier element prior to insertingthe at least one feeler element.
 51. The method of claim 50, whereindeploying the at least one feeler element comprises deploying the atleast one feeler element independently of the carrier element.
 52. Themethod of claim 50, wherein deploying the at least one feeler elementcomprises removing a sleeve within which the at least one feeler elementis received during advancing of the implantation device.
 53. The methodof claim 44, wherein advancing the implantation device comprisesadvancing an implantation device comprising a valve prosthesis carriedby the carrier element.
 54. The method of claim 44, wherein advancingthe implantation device comprises advancing an implantation devicecomprising a carrier element and a plurality of feeler elements disposedlaterally about the carrier element at spaced angular positions.
 55. Themethod of claim 54, wherein inserting the plurality of feeler elementscomprises inserting each of the plurality of feeler elements intorespective pockets defined by the wall of the blood vessel andrespective valve leaflets connected to the wall of the blood vessel. 56.The method of claim 44, wherein inserting the at least one feelerelement comprises inserting the at least one feeler element such that afree end of the at least one feeler element reaches substantially to abase of the pocket.
 57. The method of claim 44, wherein inserting the atleast one feeler element comprises inserting the at least one feelerelement such that a free end of the at least one feeler element movesalong an inclined base of the pocket and causes rotation of theimplantation device.
 58. The method of claim 44, wherein inserting theat least one feeler element comprises inserting the at least one feelerelement such that a free end of the at least one feeler element movesalong an inclined base of the pocket and causes automatic positioning ofthe implantation device.
 59. The method of claim 44, wherein insertingthe at least one feeler element comprises rotating the implantationdevice.
 60. The method of claim 44, wherein advancing the implantationdevice comprises advancing the implantation device to a positionproximate an aortic valve.
 61. The method of claim 44, wherein advancingthe implantation device comprises advancing the implantation device to aposition proximate a native heart valve.
 62. The method of claim 44,wherein advancing the implantation device comprises advancing theimplantation device with the at least one feeler element foldedalongside a lateral surface of the carrier element.
 63. The method ofclaim 44, further comprising containing the implantation device withinconcentric sleeves during advancing of the implantation device.
 64. Themethod of claim 63, wherein containing the implantation device withinconcentric sleeves comprises containing the carrier element within aninner sleeve of the concentric sleeves and containing the at least onefeeler element within an outer sleeve of the concentric sleeves.
 65. Themethod of claim 64, further comprising sequentially deploying the atleast one feeler element and the carrier element by sequentiallyremoving the at least one feeler element from the outer sleeve and thecarrier element from the inner sleeve.
 66. The method of claim 44,wherein inserting the at least one feeler element comprises insertingthe at least one feeler element until a free end of the at least onefeeler element substantially reaches a base of the pocket and provides asensation permitting detection of a location of the implantation device.67. A unit for implantation, comprising: a deployable carrier elementconfigured to be positioned on a first side of a valve leaflet of aheart valve; and at least one feeler element connected to the carrierelement and configured to be positioned on a second side of the valveleaflet, opposite the first side.
 68. The unit of claim 67, wherein theat least one feeler element is deployable from a stowed position inwhich it is folded alongside the carrier element to a deployed positionlaterally spaced from the carrier element.
 69. The unit of claim 67,wherein at least a portion of the at least one feeler element surroundsat least a portion of the carrier element.
 70. The unit of claim 67,wherein the carrier element and the at least one feeler element areself-expandable.
 71. The unit of claim 67, further comprising a valveprosthesis carried by the carrier element.
 72. A method of treating aheart valve, comprising: positioning at least one feeler element on afirst side of a valve leaflet of a heart valve; positioning a carrierelement on a second side of the valve leaflet, wherein the second sideis opposite the first side; and clamping the valve leaflet between thecarrier element and the at least one feeler element.
 73. The method ofclaim 72, further comprising exerting a radial force via the carrierelement on a wall of a blood vessel to which the valve leaflet isconnected.
 74. The method of claim 72, further comprising positioning avalve prosthesis carried by the carrier element on the second side ofthe valve leaflet.
 75. The method of claim 72, wherein positioning thecarrier element comprises positioning the carrier element radiallyinside of a plurality of valve leaflets of the heart valve.
 76. Themethod of claim 75, wherein positioning the at least one feeler elementcomprises respectively positioning a plurality of feeler elementsconnected to the carrier element radially outside of the plurality ofvalve leaflets.
 77. The method of claim 72, wherein positioning the atleast one feeler element comprises positioning the at least one feelerelement between the valve leaflet and a wall of a blood vessel to whichthe valve leaflet is connected.
 78. The method of claim 72, wherein themethod comprises treating an aortic valve.
 79. A device for implantingan implantation device relative to a heart valve, the device comprising:an inner sleeve configured to receive a deployable tubular element; andan outer sleeve concentrically disposed relative to the inner sleeve andconfigured to receive at least one deployable feeler element connectedto the tubular deployable element, wherein the inner sleeve and theouter sleeve are configured to move relative to each other so as torespectively independently deploy the deployable tubular element and theat least one deployable feeler element.
 80. The device of claim 79,wherein the device is configured to be advanced within a lumen of ablood vessel associated with the heart valve.
 81. The device of claim79, further comprising an inflatable balloon.
 82. The device of claim81, wherein the inflatable balloon is disposed concentrically within theinner sleeve when the deployable tubular element is received in theinner sleeve.
 83. The device of claim 82, wherein the inflatable balloonand the inner sleeve are configured to move relative to each other. 84.The device of claim 81, wherein, upon inflation, the inflatable balloonis configured to radially expand the deployable tubular element.
 85. Areplacement valve for use within a human body comprising: a valvecomponent; a stent component comprising a first section, a secondsection for housing the valve component, and a third section, whereinthe third section comprises at least one attachment element configuredfor removable attachment to a delivery device.
 86. A replacement valvefor use within a human body comprising: a valve component; and a stentcomponent comprising: a first section comprising a fixation element; asecond section configured to house the valve component; and a thirdsection comprising at least one attachment element.
 87. A replacementvalve for use within a human body comprising: a valve component; and atleast two stent components affixed to one another comprising: a firstsection comprising a first cone or crown and a second stent structurecollectively forming a fixation element; and a second section configuredto house the valve component.
 88. A method for replacing a worn ordiseased cardiac valve comprising: implanting a first stent componentcomprising an annular element, wherein at least a portion of the stentcomponent is housed within the worn or diseased valve; and positioning astent-valve comprising a second stent component and a valve componentwithin the first stent component, wherein the second stent componentcomprises a complimentary annular element for matably attaching to thefirst stent component.
 89. A method for delivering a cardiac stent-valveto an implantation site comprising: removably attaching the stent-valveto a delivery device; delivering the stent-valve to the implantationsite in a collapsed configuration; partially expanding the stent-valvewhile maintaining the stent-valve attached to the delivery device; andmaking a determination with respect to the stent-valve when thestent-valve is in the partially-expanded configuration.
 90. The methodof claim 89, wherein partially expanding the stent-valve comprisespartially proximally expanding the stent-valve.
 91. The method of claim89, wherein the making a determination comprises determining whether thestent-valve is positioned correctly at the implantation site.
 92. Themethod of claim 91, further comprising repositioning the stent-valvewhen the stent-valve is not positioned correctly at the implantationsite.
 93. The method of claim 89, further comprising causing thestent-valve to fully expand by causing the stent-valve to detach fromthe delivery device, when the making a determination yields a positiveresponse.